Machine for cropping or shearing cloth.



T. CANBY. mcmnf ron cR'oPPmG on' summa LorH.

APPLICATION- FILED IUIIE 5, ISIS.

n m4 amm mm n3 m P r /r//A//// Tlsomas. GANBY,

0,111 n U nan n s-F I EAL D.,

ENGLAND.

MACHINE non cnerrme on snnemne CLOTH.

Specificatiori of Letters Patent,

Patented Septz, 191,8.`

Application Med June 5, 1911;.8. Serial No. 238,295;

To aZZ'wwm concern.'

Be it known that li, TuoMAs Canna', a. subject of the King of (treat Britain, residing at Victoria Mrills, Lockwood, Hudders ieldl, in` the county of York, England, have invented certain new and useful Emprovements in Machines for Cropping or Shear ingr Cloth, of which the tollowing is a spccilication.

',lhi's invention relatesl to machines iior cropping or shearing cloth, of the typeV in which the cloth is over tension or guide rails or rollers to pass under a rotary helical cutter, and drawn therefrom by tak-ing` up rollers. The front end oi one iece of cloth is stitched to the` rear end oP a preceding piece, and as the cutter is finely adjusted in relation to the thickness ot the cloth, and the passage thereunder et ends so doubled would causedfamage to both clotl'i and cutter, it is usually necessary for thfeattendant to Watch for the approach of the doubled ends toward the cutter, and then toy lift' thev cutter stock until such endshave passed the cutter, after which the, cutter stock is lowered. While it is obviously desirable to elliect such hitting of the cutter stock automatically, and after the passage of they joined ends to. return it automatically to itsoperati've. position, withoutstopping, the machine, ditliculties in the. way of! doing these things a technically-y suo-v cessful manner have been encountered in conseqaence of the-.variable lengths and more or less irregular shapes of the overlapping. parts ofthe cloth and` the. tendency of'the cutter: stock when released to fall violently ;A andi it isrthe object off thisinsentiontoovercome these difficulties and provi-de. an improved and-practical automatic device for the above= poi-pose. I theretorei arrange that the periodl duising which the cutter stock isheld'up. shall not be. limited to the peviod of a single revolution of a power driven shaft, but that a dwell shall if necessary be allowed? to the lifting mechanism, the` draf tion of this dav/ell being variable according to requirements andi therefore` being colibtrolled by4 detector mechanism in Contact with the cloth;- and also tltat the descent et the eatterstoekcamnot be, listen-ed byv reasono its gravit ybeing sud' :only `added tothe. fences.'- mpel 'ng the. automatic mechanism which retunnsiit.. i

In earryingreut nay; invention- I.` mount on a' power deriven` shatt oli the. machine two, ratchet wheels-hawrinig.` their! teeth eut in op" posits directions, or a boss on which are termed twoy oppositely directed sets of ratchet teeth, Pawls controlling.` mechanism are simultaneously thrown. into or out of mesh withM both sets off ratchet teeth by a spring-impelled slip ring, one of such pawls receiving the drive While the. secondk pawt is carried around idly, but this secondr pawl' when. in` gear prevents the rotary speed of' the slip ring, and therefore of the pawls, from exceeding at anyy point of then: revolution the speed of' the said shaft. The slip. ring also two projections or catches, each adapted to engage a lockinoE device actuated by the traveling cloth itsel L, and when either of these catches is so enn gagedi the pawls` are thrown clear of the ratchet teeth and the litingl mechanism remains` stationary. When the first catch is engaged the cutter stockV is in its normal position, and when the tir-st catch is released so that the liftingmechanifsm becomes operati-Ve, the second catch is shortly afterward engaged, whereby the c-:utterv stockis held lip until, on the passage of the doubledend-s of cloth being-- completed, the looking device is thereliore causedI to release the second catch, and to eng-age the first catch when the slip ring has'completed a revolution, the critter stock beingthus grentlr lowered. Thus although a separately 'aetnated' lifting rod is as previously known employed to eect the lifting oii the cutter stock, the control of the detector over such liditing rod is not merely` momentary or lim itecl to starting the litingmechanism, but is retained until the doubled ends have passed the detecter; I may, also employy an auxiliar-yl spring to counteract the weigh-t of the cutter stock, andL means orpreventing back-lasl'iV or oscillation of the above de scribed mechanism.

In cases where the cloth is thin, er iit is found that the. action et the doubled ends on the detector is insuilcient to bring about with certainty the proper action ef'- the mechanism herein described, I may stitch or otherwise fasten, on to the doubled ends an, additional piece of' cloth. or other eixible material in one ormore layers, in order tel insure that the doubled endsdn not pass-the detector without the cutterI stock being` lifted.,

'1f-het accompanying drawings iblustrate mechanism for carrying out this invention?,

VFigure 1 represents Vinvvertioali see-tiema` shown on a larger scale in F portion of the machine including the cutter stock, detector and lifting connections.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of a gear box containing the catch mechanism for a multiple machine having four cutters.

F ig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line III in Fig. 2 and on a larger scale and showing a simpler form of slip ring 34.

Fig. 4 is a detail hereinafter described.

Fig, 5 is a vertical section taken on the line V in Fig. 2, and on the saine scale as in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an isometric View of the double ratchet wheel or boss 28 detached.

F ig` 7 is a detail view of the cropping knives, drawn to a larger scale.

Referring firstly to F ig. 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates the framework of the machine, to whi-ch is pivoted at 2 the Cutter bracket 3 carrying the stock 3L and helical cut-ter 4, the bracket 3 being provided with a lifting handle 5, and an adjusting spindle 6 resting on the bracket 7 and working through a nut in the bracket 3 to adjust thc extent of action of the helical cutter 4 and fixed cutter 4a on the cloth. The action of the cutters is similar to that of a lawn mower. The cloth, indicated by dot-anddash lines 8, travels over the tension rail or roller 9 and under the tension rail or roller 10, over the peaks l1 and 12, and over a roller 13, then to the next cutter or t0 a folding or cutting device at the end of the machine. The folding or cuttin device is not shown, and the function o the cropping knives is that of removing projecting fibers from the surface of the cloth, so as to level the pile or nap of the cloth. The foregoing parts are all well known. Below the roller 10 I place a detector roller 14 in contact with the cloth, this roller 14 being linked by a rod 15 to a bell crank level' 16 keyed on a short shaft 17. Loose. on this shaft 17 is a cranked lever 18 linked by a rod 19 to an arm 20 projecting from the cutter stock. The lever 16 is linked by a rod 21 toa lever 22 (Fig. 3) and the lever 18 is linked by a rod 23 to a lever 24 (Fig. 3).

In the gear box 25- (Figs. 2, 3 and 5) is a shaft '26 which is continuously rotated. For convenience in adapting the invention to existing machines, this shaft 26 may be driven by any suitable gearing, (not shown) from the existing rotary sha t 27. The bosses of the levers 22 and 24 ride freely on the said shaft 27. On the shaft 26 is secured a double ratchet w- ,'l or boss 28, 1= 6. Loose on this shaft 26 are two cams 2 r* (Figs. 2 and 3) and 30 (Figs. 2 and 5).,.- ."l.`he two cams are secured together by studs 31, on which studs are pivoted pawls 32 and 33 (Fig. 3)', the 'former being a pointed or pushing pawl, while the latter is a hooked or pulling pawl. The pawl 32 is adapted to engage one set of teeth 28 on the wheel 28, and the pawl 33 is adapted to enga e a reversed set of teeth 28" on the said w eel, but both pawls are normally inoperative shown in Fig. 3. A slip ring` 34 is mounted in circular races or rings 35 which project laterally toward each other from the sides of the two cams 29 and 30, and which are concentric with the shaft 26. The slip ring 34 in connected with the cam 29 by a spring 34a which is normally in tension. The said cam 29 is provided with sockets 36 engaging the tail pieces of the pawls 32 and 33, and with a catch or projection 37 normally engaged by a latch 38 on the end of a plunger. 39 linked to the lever 22. A second projection 40 on the slip ring has a finger 41 turned at right angles as shown in plan at Fig. 4, which finger is adapted to pass through the notch or gate 42 in the latch 38 when the plunger 39 has sent the said latch fully home, but when the lat-ch is partially drawn back the finger 41 engages the end of the latch and is thereby brought to rest.

A bowl 43 on the lever 2lengages the cam 29.

A spring 44 (Fig. 5) keeps a bo-wl 45 in engagement with the @am 30, which has two stops or steps, 37a and 40% these steps being spaced apart to correspond with the spacing of the projections or catches 37 and 40. Thus in either position the pressure of the bowl 45 steadies the cam and opposes any tendency to back-lash or oscillation.

When a doubled portion of cloth passes over and slightly presses down. the roller 14, the lever 16 is thereby rocked and causes the lever 22 to draw the latch 38 clear of the first catch or projection 37; the spring 34a then pulls around the slip ring 34 so that the sockets 36 put the pawls 32 and 33 in gear with the ratchet wheel 28, and the catch 37 comes against a stop or step 46 formed in the race or ring 35 of the main cam 29. The curved arrow in Fig. 3 shows the direc tion of revolution of the shaft. 26 and cam. The ratchet wheel 28 being fast on the r tary shaft 26 carries around the pawls 32 and 33, and through the latter pawl 33 the drive is imparted by means of the studs 31 to both cams 29 and 30, while the pawl 32 is carried around idly in the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The cam 29 is thus caused to lift the bowl 43, rocking the levers 24 and 18 so as to draw down the arm 20 (Fig. 1) and lift the cutters 4 and 4 clear of the cloth. When the proud part of the cam is against the bowl 43, so that the cutters are fully lifted, the second catch 40 reaches the locking bolt4 38. Now if the doubled ends have passed, allowing the parts 16, 22 and 38 to resume their normal positions, and the lock revolution "of the cam is completed Without` i from under the said `slip ring interruption, bracket causingv they levers 24 and; 18 and bowl 43. to return tothe positions, shown iri-` Fig. 3` as the larger side of the cani 29=` passes bowl 43, until the latch 38v obstructing the causes the pawls 32 thrown clear :of thel teeth of the ratchet "wheel 28, while at the same time` the bowl 45 passes down the first' step L,of thel cani 30.-

Iiik however the doubled ends have not }.iassedthe cuttei when the second catch 40i reaches the latch 38, the linger 41 is stopped 'a by ythe end of the wholly or partially withdrawn latch 38, sothat the slipring` is checked and takes the pawls outotthc teeth f of the a ratchetivheel. The cam then dwells or rests i turns.;

at thejhighest position until the doubled` ends have passed and the locking bolt rel The. backward movementl of the cams is prevented when thetooth/il is in Contact' with` the latch 38v by the stepv 40 on thev cam 30 vwhich then engages with'the l. bowl 45. `Then thesecond catch 40v being set` free, the: slip ring jumps and puts the pawls in the ratchet teeth again, andthe cani completes, its revolution.

In this return movement, the` weight of f thecutter stock tends to accelerate the movement of the camz, which might over-run the n ratchet wheel, the hooked paw] 33; rattling.

i with the reversed ratchet teeth preventsthe.

past the teeth, so that the cutter stock wouldv fall suddenly, but that the pawl 32 in mesh cam from going anyfaster thanitis driven by theshaft through the ratchet wheel.

In addition to the arrangement just described, to prevent the cutter stock from allingsharply uponthe adjusting brackets,

I may employ a suitable brake in connection withy the pivot of the cutter stock, or a spring such as is shown` infdotted: lines in Fig. 1,wherean arm L7 on the cutter stock connected by a spring 48 in tension to the framework "l at 49. The lifting oli` the cutterr stock causes the `lower end ot the arm 47 to approach thel point 49, when the springcollapses, and on the descent of the cutter stock the is'esistance. of the spring to extension brakes the said movement.

Il claim as my invention 1. In a cloth cropping machine, cutting mechz'mism, shifting devices for moving the cutting mechanism out ci engagement vvith` the cloth, detector mechanism actuatedk by the thickened portions of the cloth, and

y catch mechanism interposed'between the detector mechanism and the shifting devices andpermitting thev shifting devices to be operated to place the cutting mechanism out of .action automatically when the detector v i mechanism is-actuated.

2. VIn a' cloth croppingmachine, cutting the weight ot the cutter further rotation of thev and 33 tot@` mechanism shifting devices `for movimli ,ber

cutting niechanismiout; of] engageinentfviitlw a thev cloth,y detector mechanism actuated by v the thickened portionsof the, Cloth,fretract1- ble catcli` mechanism ynormally` preventing` the actuation ofthe shifting devices until;

retracted by the detector meebrenimt. and means, for keeping the cutting mechanisml out lci' engagement with the cloth until-the o catch mechanism has, fully` returnedf'to its normal position. 1

In a, cloth cropping maehinafcutting mechanism, lever mec anisini ii'ormoving the: cutting mechanism out; otengagement with theA cloth,` a ycani ierl operating` the lever mechanism, a rotaryf drivingshaft,` a: sliip ringmounted concentric with the said` shaft and cam, detector mechanism operated: by

thickened Portionsoithefcloth,catchmeohi "i nism `operatively connected with the detector mechanism and.v normally preventing u the,` t, i

slipy ring from revolving, and: `means for automatically placing theslip ring in drin-f ing connection with. the; said shaft when the catch mechanism is operated.y by the. detectoi mechanism to release; the slip 4t.' In` a cloth cropping machine, cutting i mechanism providedi' with a disengagmgi.

lever, a cam for actuating the said lever proa videdf with a driving stop, a rotary driving shaft, a sliprin'gmounted concentric withithe said shaft and cam and provided'uivith.astop1 catch for engaging the said driving stop-,fai y retractihle locking catch: whichv normally ani` gages with the stop catch, a spring; .which ,ice

advances the slip ring and places kthe-stop"` catch1 in engagement with: the saiddriving" stopk when the locking catch isl retracted',\` c o and `means forv placing the slip ring. automatically in driving connection with the driving stop onthe cam.

f In a cloth cropping machine,v cutting mechanismv provided with a disengaging` l no a,

lever, a cam for actuatingthe said lever pro vided with a driving stop, a rotary;ratchet-` toothed driving wheel-,a slip ring"mounterill cani and provided with a stop c'atch'for engaging `the said drivingr stop, a retractible locking catch which normally engages with'y o the stop catch, a spring which advances the slip ringrand places the stop catch against the said driving stop when the locking catchy is retracted, and a pawl pivoted to the' said cam and connected withv the slip ring, said l2li-1M` said shaft when itsistop catch engages the concentric vvitliy the said driving wheel;y and iis paw] being placed in driving engagement.` with Ithe said driving wheel by theslip ring when the slip' ring is advanced by the saidy 1,

spring.

6. In a cloth cropping machine, cutting mechanism provided withv adisengaging lever, a cani for actuating the said lever',

provided with driving stop, a rotary drivf-v i ing shaft, a slip ring mounted concentric With the said shaft and cam and provided with a stop catch for engaging the said driving stop, aretractible locking catch Which normally engages with the stop catch, a spring Which advances the slip ring and places the stop catch in engagement With the said driving stop when the locking catch is retracted, a spring-actuated check device which steadies the action of the said cam and prevents it from revolving backWardly when its stop catch is in engagement With the locking catch, and means for placing the slip ring automatically in driving connection with the said shaft When its stop catch engages the driving stop on the cam;

7. In Aa cloth cropping machine, cutting mechanism provided With a disengaging lever, a cam for operating the said lever provided with a driving stop, a rotary drivin g shaft, a slip ring mounted concentric y With the said shaft and cam and provided with a main stop catch and an auxiliary stop catch arranged behind the main stop catch, a retractible locking catch Which normally engages With the main stop catch and Which normally permits the passage of the auxiliary stop catch,` a spring Which advances the slip ring and places the main catch in engagement With the said driving stop When the locking catch is retracted, and means for placing the slip ring automatically in driv` ing connection with the said shaft when its main stop catch engages With the driving stop on the cam, the said auxiliary stop catch operating When arrested by the said locking catch to disconnect the said cam from its driving shaft and thereby delay the return of the disengaging lever to its normal position.

8. In a cloth cropping machine, cutting mechanism provided with a disengaging lever, a cam for operating the said lever, two ratchet-toothed driving Wheels arranged. side by side and revolving in the same direction and having their teeth arranged/to pro` ject in opposite directions, a slip ring mounted concentric With the said driving Wheels and cam and provided With a means for revolving the said cam, a straight paWl and a thesaid driving Wheels,

hooked paWl pivoted to the said cam and operatively connected With the said slip ring and normally held out of engagement With a locking catch which normally holds the slip ring from revolving, and a spring Which advances the slip ring and places it in driving engagement With the cam, When the locking catch is retracted and Which simultaneously places the said pawls in engagement With the respective driving Wheel 9. In a cloth cropping machine, cutting mechanism provided with a disengaging lever, a cam for operating the said lever provided with a driving stop, a rotary driving shaft, a slip ring mounted concentric With the said shaft and cam and provided with a mainstop catch and an auxiliary stop catch arranged behind the main stop catch, a retractible locking catch which normally engages With the main stop catch and which normally permits the passage of the auxiliary stop catch, a spring which advances the slip ring and places the main catch in engagement With the said driving stop when the locking catch is retracted, means for placing the slip ring automatically in driving connection With the saidy shaft when its main stop catch engages. with the driving stop on the cam, the said auxiliary stop catch operating when arrested by the said locking catch to disconnect the said cam from its driving shaft and thereby delay the return of the disengaging lever to its normal position, a check cam revolving with the aforesaid `cam and provided With stop surfaces spaced apart toc'orrespond With the main andauXiliary stop catches of the slip ring, and a spring-actuated member which engages with the said check cam and steadies the action of the first said cam and prevents it from revolving backvvardly.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

THOMAS CANBY.

Witnesses:

ERNEST PRIESTLEY NEW'roN, GEoRGE HAROLD PEARsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each,4 by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

